The GAA’s Central Appeals Committee will tonight hear

appeals from Queen’s University Belfast against suspensions handed down by the Central Hearings Committee at the weekend.

They include 12-week bans for team manager James McCartan and the college’s Armagh forward Ciarán O’Hanlon. A number of other punishments were struck down by CHC, including suspension for two other players Greg McCabe and Martin Clarke, as well as for the club itself.

The issue concerns the three players, who are students of Stranmillis University College, the teacher-training institute, which the appellants argue is a constituent college of QUB. Their eligibility was queried after last week’s Sigerson Cup match against Maynooth University, although not by Maynooth.

This matter has been adjudicated on by the CAC on two previous occasions with the decision in favour of Queen’s.

Last Saturday there were seven suspensions before the CHC, which had been handed down by the GAA’s Higher Education Authority. Queen’s argue that they secured permission to have a couple of the cases heard but that although the argument went in their favour the CHC was unhappy that not all parties attended.

McCabe was present and Clarke’s excuse for his absence was accepted but O’Hanlon, who was with the Armagh team before that evening’s match with Laois, was suspended, as was McCartan. The expulsion of Queen’s was overturned.

A year ago, McCabe and O’Hanlon were at the centre of an identical case, before the punishments were overturned when challenged.

Also on the disciplinary front, Wexford football selector and former All-Star Matty Forde is facing a sideline ban after an incident in the county’s match against Leitrim. Forde was sent off from the sideline after a fracas.

The GAA’s Central Competitions Control Committee has recommended a suspension but Wexford will look for a hearing before the CHC.